SA vs IND 1st T20I: Kingsmead, Durban Pitch Report, Stats, and Ground Record

India will face South Africa in the 1st T20I at Kingsmead in Durban

The first T20I of the three-match series between India and South Africa will be played at Kingsmead, Durban on Sunday, December 10.

India enters this match with confidence, having secured a 4–1 win over Australia in the recent five-match T20 series. The return of Shubman Gill, who missed the Australia series, further strengthens the Indian top order, adding depth to the team.

The vice-captaincy lands Ravindra Jadeja a confirmed spot in the playing 11, and the return of Mohammed Siraj post the Australia series adds firepower. Mukesh Kumar and Arshdeep Singh are likely to complete the bowling trio with Siraj, while the spin department is open for either Kuldeep Yadav or Ravi Bishnoi.

On the other hand, Aiden Markram takes the reins for South Africa, leading a batting lineup packed with firepower. Featuring the T20 prowess of Heinrich Klaasen, Reeza Hendricks, Tristan Stubbs and David Miller, the team is set to exploit the favourable home conditions.

Before heading into this game, let’s take a look at the pitch report of Kingsmead, Durban:

SA vs IND 1st T20I: Kingsmead, Durban Pitch Report

Kingsmead, Durban offers a batting-friendly pitch, but batters must tread carefully initially. The pronounced seam movement and bounce demand a measured approach, requiring players to acclimate to the conditions before attempting expansive shots.

Out of the 22 T20I matches played at this venue, 11 have been clinched by teams batting first. This trend suggests that the toss-winning team would be wise to choose batting first, with the intention of posting a mammoth total on the board.

SA vs IND 1st T20I: Kingsmead, Durban Ground Record

  • Total matches: 22
  • Matches won batting first: 11
  • Matches won bowling first: 9
  • Average 1st Inns scores: 153
  • Average 2nd Inns scores: 135
  • Highest total recorded: 226/6 (20 Ov) by AUS vs RSA
  • Lowest total recorded: 73/10 (16.5 Ov) by KEN vs NZ
  • Highest score chased: 191/5 (17.5 Ov) by AUS vs RSA
  • Lowest score defended: 125/6 (20 Ov) by RSAW vs WIW